Over 50 people crammed into Ryde Rowing Club on Friday (12th January) to discuss their ideas for the currently empty Appley Tower.
The Tower was leased to a private individual for over 20 years and was a shop selling fossils and crystals. However, in Spring 2017 the lease was returned to the Isle of Wight Council, the owners of the landmark.
Last year Councillor Michael Lilley, Ward Councillor for Ryde East, approached the Council alongside The Friends of Appley to ask for time for the community to develop a sustainable plan for the Tower. In September, Michael organised a meeting with Tess Hilder of the Architectural Heritage Fund who encouraged the group to apply for a feasibility grant.
Just last month it was agreed that the group could have 9 months to undertake a study and put forward a future plan to the Isle of Wight Council.
Speaking about the situation, Cllr Lilley has said:
“I did not want the Council to advertise for another private tenant of the Tower until the community had been consulted and involved. I also wanted to see all the Appley Park and Beach stakeholders coming together to discuss the future of the Park, Beach and Tower and make sure IW and Ryde Town Councils were listening to the community’s vision.”
Friday was the first stage of a community consultation on how the Tower could be used as a community and heritage resource alongside some income generation to maintain it. Local residents and organisations attended, including Friends of Appley, Ryde Inshore Rescue, Isle of Wight Beach Soccer, Historic Ryde, Three Buoys Restaurant, Ryde Rowing Club and Aspire Ryde.
A steering group has now been established who will work alongside Martin Johnson of the Friends of Appley, who is leading on the feasibility study application.
Matt Chatfield, Friends of Appley said:
“With this very positive meeting Michael has shown that the community really does want to have a say in the future of Appley Tower. We are determined that this much-loved symbol of Ryde should remain as it is now, a part of the historic landscape of Appley and we will be strongly supporting the feasibility study.”
Cllr Lilley added:
“We have had a terrific response from our promotion of the event with over 5000 reached on my webpage, and a good turnout on a cold Friday night.
“There were lots of ideas and a steering group has been established to work on the feasibility study application. There was also discussion about making sure that Appley Beach and Park was inclusive for all with improved access to the beach, beach soccer to be improved in 2018 and possibility of other beach sports, and the establishment of an Appley Stakeholders group to start bringing all the beach activity together.
“Everyone was pleased with the meeting and full of enthusiasm.”
